BRENDAN COOK AWARDED OAM

Brendon Cook, the founder of outdoor media industry leader oOh! Media, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). The King's Birthday Honours said the medal was for services to the advertising industry.

Cook, dubbed the “father” of out-of-home in Australia by one AdNews reader following the announcement of his departure, started oOh!Media more than thirty years ago.

“I'm in the UK at the moment,” he told Print21 sister title AdNews, saying the award was an honour and a pleasant surprise.

“I've been to Lisbon for the world out-of-home conference, and am still actively helping anyone who wants to ask a question.

“I’ve been helping three or four small business startups with strategies and thoughts and things that they're doing in their respective fields.

“I’m trying to get a balanced life but you’ve got to keep doing things to keep the mental juices going.”

Cook started oOh! Media, and was its CEO for 30 years, until he retired in 2020. oOh! Media is now one of the big two outdoor media businesses in Australia. It also owns leading wide format print business Cactus Imaging.

Cook was the first Australian to sit on the Board for the World Out of Home Organisation (WOO), previously named Federation European Publicite Exterieur (FEPE). Last year he was awarded the WOO Lifetime Achievement Award, for his contribution to their work and the industry overall.